Latest news with #aspergillus
RNZ News
25-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Aspergillus fungi that can ‘eat you from the inside out' could spread as the world heats up
By Laura Paddison , CNN Aspergillus, a type of fungi, is expanding its range as the world heats up, according to new research. Photo: Centres for Disease Control/Reuters via CNN Newsource Infection-causing fungi responsible for millions of deaths a year will spread significantly to new regions as the planet heats up, new research predicts - and the world is not prepared. Fungi are absolutely everywhere. A vast kingdom of organisms, from mold to mushrooms, they grow in environments such as soil, compost and water. They play an important role in ecosystems but can have a devastating impact on human health: Fungal infections kill an estimated 2.5 million people a year, and a lack of data means that number could be far higher. Yet we are still very far from understanding them, especially how these incredibly adaptable organisms will respond to a warming climate. A team of scientists from Manchester University used computer simulations and forecasts to map the potential future spread of Aspergillus, a common group of fungi found all over the world that can cause aspergillosis, a life-threatening disease primarily affecting the lungs. They found certain Aspergillus species will expand their range as the climate crisis intensifies, pushing into new parts of North America, Europe, China and Russia. The study, published this month, is currently being peer reviewed. "Fungi are relatively under-researched compared to viruses and parasites, but these maps show that fungal pathogens will likely impact most areas of the world in the future," Norman van Rijn said, one of the study's authors and a climate change and infectious diseases researcher at the University of Manchester. The field has seen new attention thanks to the popular HBO television drama "The Last of Us", which follows people trying to survive in a world where an infectious mutant fungus has turned most of the population into violent monsters. (HBO and CNN share the same parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.) It's fiction, van Rijn said, but he hoped it would raise the profile of fungal infections that were killing millions in reality. Aspergillus fungi grow like small filaments in soils all over the world. Like almost all fungi, they release huge numbers of tiny spores that spread through the air. Humans inhale spores every day but most people won't experience any health issues; their immune system clears them. It's a different story for those with lung conditions including asthma, cystic fibrosis and COPD, as well as people with compromised immune systems, such as cancer and organ transplant patients, and those who have had severe flu or Covid-19. If the body's immune system fails to clear the spores, the fungus "starts to grow and basically kind of eat you from the inside out, saying it really bluntly," van Rijn said. Aspergillosis has very high mortality rates at around 20 percent to 40 percent, he said. It's also very difficult to diagnose, as doctors don't always have it on their radar and patients often present with fevers and coughs, symptoms common to many illnesses. Fungal pathogens are also becoming increasingly resistant to treatment, van Rijn added. There are only four classes of antifungal medicines available. This all spells bad news as the climate shifts open up new areas for Aspergillus to colonize. Aspergillus flavus, a species that tends to prefer hotter, tropical climates, could increase its spread by 16 percent if humans continue burning large amounts of fossil fuels, the study found. It's predicted to push into parts of northern America, northern China and Russia. This species can cause severe infections in humans and is resistant to many antifungal medications. It also infects a range of food crops, posing a potential threat to food security. The World Health Organization added Aspergillus flavus to its critical group of fungal pathogens in 2022 because of its public health impact and antifungal resistance risk. Aspergillus fumigatus, which prefers more temperate climates, is predicted to spread northwards toward the North Pole as global temperatures rise. Its spread could increase by 77.5 percent by 2100, the study found, potentially exposing nine million people in Europe. Conversely, temperatures in some regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, could become so hot they are no longer hospitable to Aspergillus fungi. This could bring its own problems, as fungi play an important role in ecosystems, including healthy soils. Aspergillus is a fungus that is very common in the environment, found in soil, on plants and in decaying plant matter. Photo: Smith Collection/Gado/via CNN Newsource As well as expanding their growing range, a warming world could also be increasing fungi's temperature tolerance, allowing them to better survive inside human bodies. Extreme weather events such as drought, floods and heatwaves can affect fungi, too, helping to spread spores over long distances. There have been spikes in fungal disease following natural disasters, such as the outbreak after the 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri. The new Aspergillus study "rightfully shines a light on the threat of fungi that dwell in our natural environment and how under-prepared we are to cope with shifts in their prevalence," co-director of the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter Elaine Bignell said, who was not involved in the research. Many uncertainties remain, however, and there is still a huge amount of research to be done, she told CNN. Despite the deadly nature of aspergillosis, there is a real lack of data on where the pathogen is in the environment and who gets infected, professor of environmental health sciences at UC Berkeley Justin Remais said, who was not involved in the research. He is leading a study of more than 100 million patients across the United States, which identified more than 20,000 aspergillosis cases between 2013 and 2023. The number of cases is increasing about 5 percent each year, he said. "Fungal pathogens are becoming increasingly common and resistant to treatment, and we are only beginning to understand how climate change is contributing," he told CNN. People are used to hearing about diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites, but much less so fungal diseases, Bignell said. "There is a desperate need to reverse this trend given the lethality," she said. "Any of us in the future might be affected." - CNN
CTV News
24-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
A fungi that can ‘eat you from the inside out' could spread as the world heats up
Aspergillus, a type of fungi, is expanding its range as the world heats up, according to new research. Centres for Disease Control/Reuters via CNN Newsource Infection-causing fungi responsible for millions of deaths a year will spread significantly to new regions as the planet heats up, new research predicts — and the world is not prepared. Fungi are absolutely everywhere. A vast kingdom of organisms, from mold to mushrooms, they grow in environments such as soil, compost and water. They play an important role in ecosystems but can have a devastating impact on human health: Fungal infections kill an estimated 2.5 million people a year, and a lack of data means that number could be far higher. Yet we are still very far from understanding them, especially how these incredibly adaptable organisms will respond to a warming climate. A team of scientists from Manchester University used computer simulations and forecasts to map the potential future spread of Aspergillus, a common group of fungi found all over the world that can cause aspergillosis, a life-threatening disease primarily affecting the lungs. They found certain Aspergillus species will expand their range as the climate crisis intensifies, pushing into new parts of North America, Europe, China and Russia. The study, published this month, is currently being peer reviewed. 'Fungi are relatively under-researched compared to viruses and parasites, but these maps show that fungal pathogens will likely impact most areas of the world in the future,' said Norman van Rijn, one of the study's authors and a climate change and infectious diseases researcher at the University of Manchester. The field has seen new attention thanks to the popular HBO television drama 'The Last of Us,' which follows people trying to survive in a world where an infectious mutant fungus has turned most of the population into violent monsters. (HBO and CNN share the same parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.) It's fiction, van Rijn said, but he hopes it will raise the profile of fungal infections that are killing millions in reality. Aspergillus fungi grow like small filaments in soils all over the world. Like almost all fungi, they release huge numbers of tiny spores that spread through the air. Humans inhale spores every day but most people won't experience any health issues; their immune system clears them. It's a different story for those with lung conditions including asthma, cystic fibrosis and COPD, as well as people with compromised immune systems, such as cancer and organ transplant patients, and those who have had severe flu or Covid-19. If the body's immune system fails to clear the spores, the fungus 'starts to grow and basically kind of eat you from the inside out, saying it really bluntly,' van Rijn said. Aspergillosis has very high mortality rates at around 20% to 40%, he said. It's also very difficult to diagnose, as doctors don't always have it on their radar and patients often present with fevers and coughs, symptoms common to many illnesses. Fungal pathogens are also becoming increasingly resistant to treatment, van Rijn added. There are only four classes of antifungal medicines available. This all spells bad news as the climate shifts open up new areas for Aspergillus to colonize. Aspergillus flavus, a species that tends to prefer hotter, tropical climates, could increase its spread by 16% if humans continue burning large amounts of fossil fuels, the study found. It's predicted to push into parts of northern America, northern China and Russia. This species can cause severe infections in humans and is resistant to many antifungal medications. It also infects a range of food crops, posing a potential threat to food security. The World Health Organization added Aspergillus flavus to its critical group of fungal pathogens in 2022 because of its public health impact and antifungal resistance risk. Aspergillus fumigatus, which prefers more temperate climates, is predicted to spread northwards toward the North Pole as global temperatures rise. Its spread could increase by 77.5% by 2100, the study found, potentially exposing 9 million people in Europe. Conversely, temperatures in some regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, could become so hot they are no longer hospitable to Aspergillus fungi. This could bring its own problems, as fungi play an important role in ecosystems, including healthy soils. As well as expanding their growing range, a warming world could also be increasing fungi's temperature tolerance, allowing them to better survive inside human bodies. Extreme weather events such as drought, floods and heatwaves can affect fungi, too, helping to spread spores over long distances. There have been spikes in fungal disease following natural disasters, such as the outbreak after the 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri. The new Aspergillus study 'rightfully shines a light on the threat of fungi that dwell in our natural environment and how under-prepared we are to cope with shifts in their prevalence,' said Elaine Bignell, co-director of the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, who was not involved in the research. Many uncertainties remain, however, and there is still a huge amount of research to be done, she told CNN. Despite the deadly nature of aspergillosis, there is a real lack of data on where the pathogen is in the environment and who gets infected, said Justin Remais, a professor of environmental health sciences at UC Berkeley, who was not involved in the research. He is leading a study of more than 100 million patients across the United States, which identified more than 20,000 aspergillosis cases between 2013 and 2023. The number of cases is increasing about 5% each year, he said. 'Fungal pathogens are becoming increasingly common and resistant to treatment, and we are only beginning to understand how climate change is contributing,' he told CNN. People are used to hearing about diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites, but much less so fungal diseases, said Bignell. 'There is a desperate need to reverse this trend given the lethality,' she said. 'Any of us in the future might be affected.'
Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
The ‘extreme' mould threatening to destroy our heritage
As if it weren't enough of a challenge to conserve priceless paintings and historical artefacts from environmental damage, there is a sinister new threat to contend with: a strain of mega-mould that has wreaked havoc in Denmark's museums could already have made its way to the UK. While we usually associate mould with damp, this variety actually thrives in dry conditions, creating a fresh headache for art owners and gallery directors. Camilla Jul Bastholm, head of conservation and collection storage at the National Museum of Denmark, says she first noticed the problem around 10 years ago. 'I was wondering what was going on in the Danish museum repositories,' she recalls. 'I couldn't work out what kind of mould it was because the methods we normally use to detect mould, for example after a building has water damage, don't work with this species.' It's a completely atypical variety called aspergillus section restricti, explains Bastholm, and it's known as 'extreme' mould because 'for mould, which usually prefers humidity, dry conditions are extreme'. It's also very difficult to spot because it's white and nearly transparent. But the damage it does is significant. 'The fungi decimate enzymes and assets, which deteriorates an object, and secrete pigments that colour it, so it actually changes its appearance,' says Bastholm. 'Even if you clean the mould off, it can leave marks. And the longer it grows on something, the worse it gets.' It's a potentially very expensive predicament for museums. One of the storage depositories Bastholm examined had more than 200,000 artefacts. 'Even if only 40 per cent of them have mould, it's still an extensive job to clean them all off. Some may need restoration work depending on the level of damage.' So far the mould has been detected in 12 Danish museums, and there are studies under way at 150 more sites. Oddly, Bastholm notes, this mould isn't just restricted to organic material like wood or paper, which is normally more vulnerable. 'I've seen it on ceramics, glass and metals too. But it doesn't seem to affect modern materials. For some reason this mould has a taste for cultural heritage.' That's potentially alarming news for many in the UK, whether gallery heads, custodians of stately homes, churches, libraries or even members of the public who have historic pieces of art or book collections. 'That mould could well be present in Britain already,' says Chris Woods, director of the National Conservation Service. 'Moulds spread around. We're constantly surrounded by spores – we can't escape them.' Woods is taking a keen interest in the Danish situation. 'We need to be aware of the risks if a mould is emerging that is seriously different to what we're used to and could potentially breach the stable environments in which we keep art and artefacts. I'll definitely be keeping a close eye to see if any British collections might be at risk. Our climate is very similar to Denmark's, so we could learn a lot.' Bastholm believes this is already an international problem. 'There are case studies from numerous places, like a Chinese museum depository, an Austrian church, a Swedish library and a Leonardo da Vinci self-portrait in Italy. It seems to be the same species.' She thinks we have it in the UK as well, but just haven't detected it yet. 'I've seen photographs and thought, 'Oh, yes, that looks like it.' The reason you haven't found it might be that you tend to find what you're looking for – and no one was looking for this.' It's essentially impossible to stop the spread of mould, explains Woods, with so many objects (including loans for exhibitions) transported around the world. 'We're alert to the risk of pests but we're not able to track mould spores at a very microscopic level, which are embedded in materials. You could bring back an unusual mould and not even know it.' Most big museums and galleries have sophisticated systems in place to control the environment for their collections, such as the light, temperature and relative humidity. However, Bastholm notes that the Danish museums where she found mould had all adhered to the International Council of Museums guidelines, and it hadn't prevented this particular mould from thriving. It's even harder in an uncontrolled environment, points out Woods. 'Think of a historic stately home with furniture, libraries or venues – you can't seal it off. Churches are definitely the trickiest.' Woods is an advisor to cathedrals such as Lincoln and Salisbury on how to conserve their Magna Carta exemplars. 'They're made of sheep-skin parchment, so they have naturally accumulated mould and bacteria over 800 years. That's why they're kept in tightly sealed frames that maintain extremely stable relative humidity of 40 per cent, which stops the mould from growing and prevents new spores from landing on them.' That should mean the Magna Carta is safe from this new strain reaching it, but, says Woods, you can't be too careful. 'Mould can create total destruction if it's allowed to. Parchment is such a nutritious source: I've seen it virtually be turned to dust.' Since few objects have the level of protection that the Magna Carta enjoys, what can the rest of us do to protect our artwork? The key thing is to be on high alert, says Camilla Hughes-Hunt, managing director of restoration specialists Plowden & Smith. That includes using a data logger to record the temperature and relative humidity of the space where you're storing your pieces, and keeping a close watch on the surfaces. '[This strain] may not smell as strongly, unlike typical moulds, making it harder to detect without close inspection.' She also recommends good ventilation and air filtration, which helps to reduce spore load, and frequent removal of dust, since these types of mould need it to get enough moisture to survive. Danielle Burke, lead art historian at the Fine Art Restoration Company, says many people forget to look behind their paintings. 'But mould can come through from the back, and then you don't see it until it's too late and already causing cracking or flaking on the canvas. We become so used to the art in our homes that we stop paying attention to it. We really need to monitor it carefully, especially if something is high value – either monetarily or emotionally, like a family heirloom.' Once spores have become ingrained in the surface of a painting or piece of furniture 'it becomes increasingly difficult to fully and safely remove the mould and prevent it from recurring,' says Sophie McAloone, conservation manager and easel painting conservator at the Fine Art Restoration Company. 'As the mould develops, it feeds on the organic material in the artwork and can cause irreversible damage.' McAloone suggests keeping a photographic record of artworks so you can immediately spot early signs, like staining or warping. Let it take hold and you'll pay a steep price. McAloone says paper restoration can be upwards of £900 for badly damaged pieces. Mould is also a health issue, which is another nightmare for museums, observes Bastholm, since by nature they need to be accessible for exhibitions, education and research. 'But if there's huge fungal growth, it becomes a health hazard. You might need to look at precautions like not letting people near items without wearing a mask.' It's a crisis in the making – and it could be right under our noses.
